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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Mr. Whist who wrote (49833)10/20/2000 12:51:14 PM
From: Neocon  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 769667
 
Well, I appreciate the exemption, and I understand that there is a temperamental difference, but my views are not markedly different from most of these guys. My major disagreement with haqi is that he is too prone to gay bashing, and letting his temper get the better of him. My main policy disagreement with jla has been over the end of the Gulf War, where I think it was untenable to march on Baghdad. Also, although he supports the "safety net", he over estimates people's control over their circumstances sometimes. And so on. I am surprised that you and Michael Cummings, who is usually a very good tempered fellow, have gotten to be so personally at odds. Prolife and I are both against abortion, although I am somewhat more understanding of the other side, and therefore more patient. I cannot say as well about the major, but I have not disagreed on him on much except gay bashing. I do not think they are zealots, or particularly fringe. The thread has degenerated, to be sure, but it is not all their fault, there has been a lot of provocation from the other side. All of them that I have known for awhile, including jla, can be polite enough if their opponents are not too damned sarcastic or prone to be rude in a general way about people with conservative views.

Anyway, I am curious, how do you rationalize my support for Bush? Do you suppose that I am naive, and too trusting of his backers? Do you think that I am too moralistic, and therefore determined to punish Clinton indirectly? Do you think that I am a WASP wannabe? If you find it uncomfortable, or have not given it thought, I do not want to press you, but I am curious.......



To: Mr. Whist who wrote (49833)10/20/2000 2:21:08 PM
From: kvkkc1  Respond to of 769667
 
Wall Street Journal
October 20, 2000

Our Degraded Military

As a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War and the father of a young, active-duty Marine captain, I was filled with rage and disgust as I read Mark Helprin's Oct. 10 editorial-page commentary "Mr. Clinton's Army."

There is little doubt that the systematic degrading of this nation's military establishment by the Clinton/Gore administration will be paid for with the lives of American service men and women. What I will never understand is why for eight years senior military officers in his administration, most of them decorated combat veterans, traded their honor and collaborated in this indignity without uttering the slightest objection. What happened to the officer's code that has always had two absolutes: carry out the mission and look out for the interests of those placed in their charge? Our military sons and daughters expected them to be leaders worthy of the name, for whom duty, donor and country is a way of life. We should have seen a few public resignations of generals or admirals protesting the weakening of our armed forces.

James Collins, Jupiter, Fla.

Mr. Helprin's article reminded me of a family experience. Our son was serving in the U.S. Air Force in Saudi Arabia as crew chief on F-15 Fighters. His team's mission was to enforce the no-fly zone in Iraq. Their training was so impressive that his team could change an engine in an F-15 in a few hours. As a consequence, his name was painted on the fighter right under the pilot's name.

He called home to say that he had nothing to do except play basketball and ping pong for several days. Surprised, I asked why. He said that his base was out of jet fuel! Hello, Washington? Is anybody home?

Paul Ritchey, Goshen, Ohio

Editor’s Note: The op-ed referred to appeared in the Current News Early Bird, October 10, 2000.